Nolan Ryan: The Mets Years (1966-1971)

Happy 63rd Birthday to one of the Greatest ever!

The Mets signed Nolan Ryan out of high school in 1965. At first, his fast ball was just around 90 miles an hour, Over the next two years he gained more more velocity and threw harder. He was assigned to the Marion Mets in Virginia & then Greenville, where he went 17-2 with 272 strikeouts in 183 innings.

He made his MLB debut with the Mets on September 11th, 1966 at Shea Stadium. The Mets lost to the Braves 8-2, with Ryan getting no decision. Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews stepped in and watched a Ryan fast ball whiz by him; he looked at Jerry Grote saying “what the hell was that?” On that day Ryan got his 1st career strikeout, he was the pitcher, Pat Jarvis. He also gave up his 1st career HR to non other than Joe Torre. Ryan would pitch in only 3 games that September going 0-1 with 6 strikeouts in 3 innings. His control was a problem and he spent 1967 in the minors.

In 1968 he won his first start not allowing any runs pitching into the 7th inning, while striking out eight. After two losses, he won three in a row, the last two were complete games; first a three hit, one run performance in St. Louis. Next was a 14 strikeout four hitter at Shea against the Reds.

He only pitch until the end of July, finishing the year 6-9 with a 3.09 ERA. He averaged a strike out an inning (134) in 21 games. Control was still an issue; as he walked 75 batters, threw 7 wild pitches, hit 4 batters and allowed 12 HRs.

By 1969 Ryan was famous for soaking his fingers in pickle brine, due to developing blisters. It was method criticized by some coaches & team mates. On a personal level, he married his childhood sweetheart Ruth and the two kept very much to themselves. They never got accustomed to the Big Apple & NY City’s fast pace life style. Ruth always feared for her safety & the thought of raising children there wasn’t an option.

The Ryan’s were friends with the Koosmans, Jerry & Lavonne. (Koosman was also a farm boy from a small town.) Ruth Ryan & Nancy Seaver also became good friends just like their Hall of Fame husbands. The Seavers certainly were not wild party goers either, but they did enjoy the museums, restaurants & arts NY had to offer.

In 1969 Gil Hodges used Nolan mostly in relief. He would start 10 of the 25 games he pitched, going 6-3 with a 3.53 ERA. He saved the second game of the season at Shea, giving the Mets their first win of the '69 season, beating Montreal. He went into July 3-0 with a save, and a 2.29 ERA. He got a start on August 5th in Cincinatti beating the Reds, throwing a comlete game only allowing one run.

In the beginning of September he won 2 games in a four day stretch at Shea, helping the Mets catch the Cubs in the pennant race. On Sunday September 7th, he pitched 3 innings of scoreless relief to earn his 5th win of the year. Three days later he pitched a 7-1 complete game victory in the 2nd game of a double header, striking out 11 Expos. He finished the year with 92 strkeouts in 89 innings. He walked 53 batters but only hit one, & threw only one wild pitch.

His biggest day as a Met came on October 6th, 1969 in Game #3 of the NLCS at Shea Stadium. Ryan came in to relieve Gary Gentry in the 3rd inning and would go the distance. In the top of the 9th inning, Tony Gonzales hit a ground ball to Wayne Garrett for the last out. Jerry Grote congradulated him, then he ran for his life as the fans stormed the field. He earned the win, as the Mets swept the Braves and advanced to the World Series. In 7 innings pitched, he allowed 2 runs ( 2 run HR by Orlando Cepeda) on 3 hits with 7 strikeouts & 2 walks. At the plate he even got two base hits, going 2-4 and scoring a run.

In the World Series Ryan pitched in relief of Gary Gentry again in Game #3 at Shea. He came into a bases loaded jam in the 7th inning but got Paul Blair to line out to retire the side. After a 1-2-3, 8th he loaded the bases on a single and two walks in the 9th. Gil Hodges paced the dugout, but stuck with Ryan. This time Blair ripped a liner to right center field. Met fans across the world held their breath as Tommie Agee came up with one of the greatest catches in World Series history. His second of the day. The Mets won 5-0 and went up 2 games to 1 in the Series.

In 1970 his best outing was on Saturday afternoon April 10th at Shea. He threw a one hit shut out against the Phillies, striking out 15 batters. Next he threw an eight inning, two hitter in Los Angeles, followed by a three hitter in San Francisco. In those three games he only allowed two earned runs in 26 innings. He lost his next two decisions, won his next two then lost the next two. He had a terrible August going 1-4 allowing 12 earned runs.

He ended the season 7-11 striking out 125 batters in 132 innings pitched. He walked 97, allowed 10 HRs, threw 8 wild pitches and hit 4 sorry batters. He threw five complete games and earned one save in 8 relief appearances. By 1971 he was becoming very frustrated between having limited success and with his unhappiness in New York. He considered retirement, and asked Mets management for a trade.

The season started out good again, he was 6-2 at the end of May, having thrown a 3 hitter vs. Houston at Shea on May 11th and a 4 hitter in San Diego two weeks later. But he would have a rough summer, ending the season 10-14 with a 3.97 ERA, 137 Ks in 152 innings. He pitched in his Met career high 26 games but allowed 125 hits, 116 walks,& hit a career high 15 batters.

During that off season, on December 10th, 1971 Ryan was traded along with Leory Stanton to the California Angels for Jim Fregosi. It turned out to be the worst trade the Mets ever made. The Mets gave up on Ryan, due to his control issues and thought Fregosi was the answer to third base. To give the Mets some slack, Ryan was very unhappy and wanted out of New York. He probably never would have adjusted, but they should have gotten more in return for him.

Ryan credits Tom Seaver as helping him develop into a pitcher instead of just a flame thrower. He helped Changing his high leg kick and develop an over the top delivery, using more power from the legs. Nolan Ryan went on to become one of baseball greatest pitchers of all time. He is the all time strike out leader and has thrown seven no hitters. He is enshrined in Cooperstown and will always be part of Mets history. In 2009 he returned to New York as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of the 1969 team.